Join the Movement to Make Capitol Hill Safer for Bicyclists

A volunteer-driven effort is leading the way to ensure that the forthcoming protected lane connection on Pike/Pine between Capitol Hill and downtown Seattle is safe and inviting for bicyclists of all ages and abilities.

As part of that work, community members are encouraged to come out and contribute their feedback to an upcoming Community Design Workshop on the evening of October 25th.

The event is free and open to the public. Participants must RSVP to secure their space. Activities begin at 5:30pm with a community meal and include a performance by cycling advocate and multimedia artist Tessa Hulls, followed by an interactive breakout session in which community members will learn about the City’s bike lane proposals and collaborate on ideas for designs.

The goal for the design workshop is for the community to collectively develop a vision for the future corridor so that future users’ priorities are shared with the City in a unified voice.

Much has been said recently about the current state of Seattle’s protected bike lanes, which have been criticized for their lack of cohesive connections. The addition of a protected bike lane in the Pike/Pine corridor presents the opportunity to create a well-used and safe route for cyclists into Downtown.

Community Input Is Crucial for Design Success

However, in order to achieve success the design plan will need to be inclusive of different interests. Understanding that fact, the partner organizations are striving for community engagement that reaches out to a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including the business community.

While critics have argued that protected bike lanes are detrimental for businesses, research shows that when implemented effectively, protected bike lanes increase commercial activity and strengthen local businesses by creating appealing neighborhoods where community members frequent local establishments to address their daily needs.

Studies have shown that protected bike lanes significantly boost ridership, especially among the majority of the population who do not identify as “confident cyclists;” however, improvements like protected bike lanes only succeed if they are truly designed for the needs of the communities they will serve.

Come out and make your voice part of the Seattle’s transportation future!

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Natalie Bicknell is Senior Reporter at The Urbanist. She is a writer and community college instructor who lives in the Central District with her husband and two dogs. In her research and writing, she is always on the lookout for better ways of creating sustainable, diverse, and vibrant cities. Email her at natalie [at] theurbanist [dot] org.